Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 1 Samuel 2 and Psalm 50

‘Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the Lord is a God who knows, and by Him deeds are weighed.” (1 Samuel 2:3) As we read this chapter, the truth of this part of Hannah’s prayer unfold before us. The righteous and gracious priest, Eli, was to be succeeded as priest by his two sons. But they were utterly corrupt and used their position for personal gain. They used their status and authority to take sexual advantage of the women of Israel as they came to worship. They evidently had absolutely zero faith, for they sinned blatantly in the sacred place of worship – as if God could not see and did not know.

When she prayed, Hannah had no way of knowing these things about Eli’s sons, but she certainly was led by the Spirit in proclaiming the truth that God both saw and knew exactly what was going on. The judgment that God would later proclaim against these two sons and His rejection of them as priests was entirely just.

Heavenly Father, preserve us from the faithlessness that led these sons into such depths of sin. Help us, Holy Spirit, to be constantly aware of Your presence and Your knowledge of all that we think, speak and do. Help us to live righteously in the light of Your presence, Lord, and not to bring sorrow to Your heart in any way. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.